Conversion arrangement for suction cleaners



July 14, 1953 R. c. OSBORN CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FOR suc'rxou CLEANERS Filed March 19, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RALPH C. O SBORN A TTORNEY July 14, 1953 R. c. OSBORN CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed March 19, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RALPH C. OSBORN TOR/VEV Patented July 14, 953

CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FOR :SUCTION CLEANERS Ralph C. Osborn, Bloomlngton, Ill., assignor to by Eureka Williams Corporation, Detroit, Mich., v a corporation of Michigan Application March 19', 1947, Serial No. 735,592-

3 Claims. (01.15433) 1 This invention relates to suction cleaners an has particular reference ,to certain new and useful improvements by means of which a suction cleaner of the floor type may be converted for oif-the-floor cleaning operations.

Conversion arrangements for converting floor} cleaners of the vertical motor type for oiI-thefloor cleaning operations heretofore suggested have been and are unsatisfactory because such arrangements do not permit the floor cleaner to be pulled around on the floorby means of the hose attached thereto when the cleaner is a'r-1 ranged for off-the-floor cleaning operations and also because such arrangements have not effectively shut off the flow of air from the floor nozzle to the fan. 7

According to the present invention a floor cleaner of the vertical motor type is provided with a centrally located converter .port above the nozzle at the front of the cleaner, such port being connected to the suction air passageway between the nozzle and the fan for receiving a converter element to convert the cleaner for offthe-fioor cleaning operations.

A converter element (not shown) .is insertable through the port into the suction air passage way so as to shut off the communication between the nozzle and the fan and has provisions .to accommodate the belt which extends'through the passageway and interconnects the agitator arranged in the nozzle and the motor for driving the agitator during the operation of the motor. Nozzle elevating means are movably mounted on the cleaner body for movement between a retracted position above the bottom edge of the front wheels and a projected position below the lower edge of the front wheels, such nozzle elevating means being operable to elevate the nozzle and agitator to an inoperative position relative to the surface covering.

In the form of the invention illustrated the converter port is provided with acover and a foot operated pedal isconnected to the nozzle elevating means and the converter port cover for actuating the same, The converter port 2 operative position relative to the surface cover ing 'Anew and improved conversion arrangement for floor cleaners of the vertical motor type in which means are provided in addition to the normal floor wheels of the cleaner for elevating the nozzle and the agitator to an inoperative posi- I tion relativeto the surface covering.

A new and simplified conversion arrangement particularly adapted for floor cleaners of the vertical motor type in which a converter port cover and a nozzle and agitator elevating means are arranged to be actuated by a foot operated pedal.

4 ing drawings of which. thereare two sheets which, by way 'of illustration, show .the'embodi- Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent by reference to the accompany! ment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in. which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles maybe used and structural changes may be made as desired'by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of theappended claims. I also contemplate that of the several different features of my invention, cer

' t'ain ones thereof may be advantageously erathe cleaner arranged for on-theefloorcleaning operations;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig 2 showing one step in the process of converting the cleaner for oif-the-iioor cleaning'operations;

and p Fig. 5 is another fragmentary view similar to Fig 4 showing the nozzle and agitator elevated and the converter port cover in its open position for receiving a converter element.

A suction cleaner embodying the invention has a body indicated generally at 30. with a nozzle 3| at the forward end thereof, an agitator 29 operatively associated-with the nozzle, and front and rear wheels 34 and 32 supporting the body for movement on a surface covering indicated by the line 35 with the nozzle and agitatoroperatively positioned relative to the surface'covering.

3 The cleaner further includes a handle 36 pivotally mounted on the cleaner body for maneuvering the cleaner and a bag 38 arranged to collect the dirt picked up by the cleaner and to separate such dirt from the air which flows through the cleaner. 7

A suction creating fan 40 is provided with an air inlet 42 connected by a suction air passageway 44 with the interior of the nozzle 3|. An electric motor 46 is arranged for driving the fan and has a shaft 48 which extends through the fan chamber and the inlet 42 thereto. A pulley 50 is secured to the motor shaft 48 and a flexible elastic belt 52 drivingly connects the pulley 50 and the agitator 29 for rotating the same about its horizontal axis during the operation of the motor. The nozzle 31 is provided with an elongated horizontally disposed nozzle mouth 54 presented toward the surface covering 35 and arranged so that during operation of the fan 40 air will flow into the nozzle through the mouth 54 thereof and lift the surface covering 35 up against the mouth 54 of the nozzle where it is acted on by the agitator 29. The agitator is rotatable about its horizontal axis and arranged so that brush elements 56 thereon will beat and/ or sweep the surface covering suspended against the nozzle mouth 54.

The body is provided with a centrally located converter port 60 above the nozzle 3| and at the front of the cleaner, such port being connected to the suction air passageway 44 for receiving a converter element not shown. The converter port 60 may be rectangular in cross section and shaped to receive the inserted end of the converter element, the end of the converter having a cross section the same as that of the port 6!! and having a sliding fit in the port.

The converter element may be similar in construction and operation to that shown in the application of Harry B. White for suction cleaners, Serial No. 486,633 filed May 12, 1943, now Patent No. 2,416,786, issued March 4, 1947. The converter element forms an air conducting memher and at its outer end is adapted to detachably receive a flexible hose.

The converter port 60 is normally closed when the cleaner is arranged for on-the-floor cleaning operations by a cover 200 pivoted to the cleaner body at 202 and arranged for opening and closing the port 60.

The cleaner is provided with a nozzle elevating means including a floor engaging wheel 204 which is normally positioned above the lower edge of the front floor wheels 34 as shown in Fig. 2. The wheel 204 is rotatable on an axle 206 carried by a fork 208 which in turn is carried on an arm 2 [0 of a plate 2l2 which is rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft H4. The shaft 2 I4 is suitably mounted in a fixed position on the cleaner. A compression coil spring 2l6 connected by a pin 2 !8 to the rear wall of the nozzle 3| and by a pin 220 to the edge of the plate 2I2 normally positions the plate 2|2 and the wheel 204 in its re- The slot 236 as arranged in Fig.

the pin 234 reacting on the edge of the slot in the plate 2 l 2 will shift the plate 2 I 2 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby shifting the nozzle elevating wheel 204 to its projected position below the front wheels 34 to elevate the nozzle to an inoperative position relative to the surface covering.

The spring 2l6 initially resists and is compressed by this rotary movement of the plate 2|2, but after the pin 220 crosses the line between the pin 2l8 and the axle 2l4 the spring 2l6 will expand and react on the rotary plate 2 i2 to shift and position it as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

A projection 240 on the plate 2 l2 forms a stop which is arranged to engage the wall 242 forming the under side of the fan chamber so as to limit rotation of the plate M2 in a counterclockwise direction. The spring 2|6 however normally maintains the plate 2 l2 and the wheel 204 in the position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 after the plate 212 is rotated a suflicient amount. The plate H2 is provided with a slot 244 through which one end 246 of a link 248 extends, the other end of the link 248 having an articulated connection at 250 with an arm 252 of the cover 200. A spring 254 coiled around the upper end of the link 248 and reacting against the arm 252 biases the link 248 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection with the arm 252. The end 246 of the link is free to slide lengthwise in the arcuate slot 244 so that the cover 200 may be opened when the nozzle elevating means is arranged as shown in Fig. 2. The hood 260 may be relieved adjacent the edge of the cover 200 so that the edge of the cover may be engaged by a finger for shifting it to its open position, if desired, independently of shifting of the nozzle elevating wheel to its projected position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The pin 234 also extends through a slot 262 in a lever 264 which is rotatable on the shaft 2M and arranged between the plate 212 and the lever 228. Upon operation of the pedal 226 to shift the plate 2| 2 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4, the lever 264 will be shifted from the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 2 to that as shown in Fig. 4. The lever 264 includes a finger 266 which projects beyond the slot 244 in the plate 2| 2 and is arranged to engage the end 246 of the link 248 which extends through the slot 244 whereby upon further depression of the pedal 226, that is, movement thereof from the position as illustrated in Fig. 4 to that illustrated in Fig. 5, the lever 264 will be shifted so that the finger 266 thereof will engage the end 246 of the link 248 and shift the same so as to open the cover 200 as shown in Fig. 5.

When the cover 200 is closed and the nozzle elevating means is in its retracted position the spring 254 is arranged to bias the end 246 of the link 248 into a notch 280 formed in the plate 2l2 on one side of the slot 244. However, starting with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 2, when the pedal 226 is depressed the end 246 of the link 248 will ride out of the notch 280, since the notch 280 is so arranged, when the plate H2 is in the position of Fig. 2, that the upper edge thereof will cam the end 246 out of the notch upon rotation of the plate 2 [2 in a counterclockwise direction. This will permit the nozzle elevating means to be shifted to its projected position as shown in Fig. 4 without opening the cover 200 or, conversely, permits the cover 200 to be opened without shifting the nozzle elevating means to its projected position. Upon further depression of the foot pedal the arm 266 will by engagement with the end 246 of the link 248 move the link 248 to the position shown in Fig. 5 whereupon the end 246 when it arrives opposite the notch 280 will drop into the notch and hold the cover 200 in its open position.

A torsion spring 284 reacting on the lug 230 and the lever 228 biases the pedal 226 towards its position as shown in Fig. 2, so that'when the pedal 226 is released it will return to its position as shown in Fig. 4. This however will not retract the nozzle elevating means or close the cover as the pin 234 will merely move to the lower end of the slot 236. Such movement however will shift the lever 264 back to its position as shown in Fig. 4.

With the converter port 60 open the converter may be inserted therein and the cleaner is ready for oiT-the-floor cleaning operations. Upon removal of the converter from the port 60, closing of the converter port cover 200 by pushing it downwardly against the edge of the port will cause the nozzle elevating means to be shifted to its retracted position, since the end 246 of the link 248 is in the slot 280 and since with the slot 280 arranged as shown in Fig. 5, the end 246 of the link 248 will not slip out of the notch 280 until after the plate 2|2 has been rotated in a clockwise direction to a point where the pin 220 is above the line between the pin H8 and the shaft 214 whereupon the spring 216 will shift the plate 212 and the wheel 204 to the position as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I have provided an arrangement wherein the converter port cover may be opened and the nozzle elevated by a single operation of depressing the pedal 226, whereby upon insertion of the converter the cleaner is ready for off-the-fioor cleaning operations. It will also be apparent that upon removal of the converter from the port 60 I the cleaner may be arranged for on-the-floor cleaning operations merely by closing the converter port cover 200 which will shift the nozzle elevating means to its retracted position.

The arrangement also permits the converter port cover 200 to be opened without shifting the nozzle elevating means to its projected position merely by manually engagingthe cover 200 and shifting it to its open position whereupon the converter may be inserted into the port and the cleaner is then ready for off-the-floor cleaner operations. When the cleaner is arranged on a hard surface such as a wood flooror linoleum there is no necessity of raising the nozzle and the agitator since their proximity to the hard floor will not make any difference as the agitator is spaced above the floor when the cleaner is setting on a hard surface.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A suction cleaner having a body with a nozzle at the forward end thereof, front and rear wheels normally supporting said body for movement on a surface covering with said nozzle operatively positioned relative to said surface covering, a surface covering agitator operatively air passageway between said motor and agitator to operate the latter, said body having a converter port above said nozzle and connected to said suction air passageway for receiving a converter element to convert the cleaner for off-thefloor cleaning, a cover movably mounted on said body and arranged for closing or opening said port, nozzle elevating means movably mounted on said cleaner relative to said wheels and oper able for elevating said nozzle and agitator to an inoperative position relative to said surface covering and foot pedal means connected to said converter port cover and to said elevating means for operating said elevating means to elevate said nozzle and agitator and to move saidconverter port cover to its open position.

2. A suction cleaner having a body with a nozzle at the forward end thereof, an agitator operatively associated with said nozzle, front and rear wheels supporting said body for movement on a surface covering with said nozzle and agitator operatively positioned relative to said surface covering, a suction creating fan, a motor for driving said fan, a suction air passageway between said fan and nozzle, a belt in said suction air passageway between said motor and agitator to operate the latter, said body having a converter port above said nozzle and connected to said suction air passageway for receiving a converter element to convert the cleaner for offthe-floor cleaning, a cover movably mounted on said body and arranged for closing or opening said port, means movably mounted on said cleaner body and movable relative to said front 3. A suction cleaner according to claim 2' including means interconnecting said converterport cover and said elevating means, said means being constructed and arranged in such manner that said converter port cover may be opened without effecting movement of said elevating means, and closing of said cover, when said elevating means is in said projected position, ef-

fects movement of said elevating means to said retracted position.

RALPH C. OSBORN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date White Dec. 17, 1935 White Dec. 17, 1935 Pierce Oct. 3, 1939 Troxler Sept. 30, 1941 Luse Oct. 14, 1941 White Mar. 4, 1947 Coss May 30, 1950 Humphrey Aug. 8, 1950 Number 

